Nation: The Sound of Footsteps

Even though he took over the G.O.P.'s front-running position months ago,
Barry Goldwater was still nervous about the sound of footsteps behind
him. "God knows," he complained, "I haven't sought this position. I'm
still wishing something would happen to get me out of all this. It's
all a little frightening."

Barry felt beleaguered. "Sometimes, he said, "I wonder why we ought to
even bother with an announcement. If we say I'm going to run, everybody
will just say that's no news. Rockefeller's announcement sure fell with
a thud. And if I say I'm not going to run, I d better get out...